Reading tables

ABSTRACT

A reading table arranged for support on a bed, chair or floor including a table top with members for holding a book or other reading matter thereon, the top mounted for changed inclination, lateral and vertical positions relative to upright legs and supporting feet, each of the latter being arranged for adjustment to vary disposition of the table top and to enable fold-up into a storage position.

United States Patent Weir July 15, 1975 READING TABLES 2,691,239 10/1954McCollum 248/444 I I 2,774,177 12/1956 Murgia 248/457 [76] lnvemor-Stanley BOX Sdmd 2,908,465 10/1959 Lykes... 248/445 x Clara, Callf-95052 3,698,328 10/1972 Weir 108/6 22 Filed: Aug. 20, 1973 PrimaryExaminerCasm1r A. Nunberg 21 Appl. No.: 390,056

[57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl 248/445; 108/49 A ng table arranged for pp na h ir [51] Int. Cl. A47F 5/12; A47B 23/00 r floor inclu ing a table topwith members for hold- [58] Field of Search 108/46, 43, 49-, 248/444, nga k r th r ad ng att n, h t p 248/445, 457, 124 mounted for changedinclination, lateral and vertical positions relative to upright legs andsupporting feet, [56] References Cited each of the latter being arrangedfor adjustment to UNITED STATES PATENTS vary disposition of the tabletop and to enable fold-up 2.480233 8/1949 Fuller 108/4 a storage posmon'2,628,803 2/l953 Krewson 248/124 3 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure READINGTABLES REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS 951,145 3/1910 McGennissl08/43X 1,035,290 8/1912 WOOCI 248/444 1,232,757 7/1917 Berkley 108/461797347 3/1931 Vandagriff 108/49 1,862,237 6/1932 Popler 108/492,193,907 3/1940 Love 248/445 2,480.233 8/1949 Fuller 108/4 2,692,806/1954 Grace lob/93X 2,908,465 10/1959 Lykes 248/445X 3,167,036 1/1965Brossard 108/4 3,698,328 10/1972 Weir 108/6 This invention relates to atable for facilitating reading of books, magazines and other readingmatter. The table may also serve any other purpose for which it is founduseful.

One important objective of the present invention is to permit placementof a book at any convient height for reading.

Another object of importance is to permit placement of a book at anydesired inclination for reading.

Another object ofimportance is to provide means for moving a booksideways so that either page of an open book may be placed in front ofthe reader.

Another object of importance is to permit a book to be placed at anyconvient distance from the reader.

Another object of importance is to provide holdown members for holdingbooks of different sizes and thicknesses open on a table top, yet permitunobstructed view of reading matter and easy turning of pages even whena book on the table top is turned up-side-down.

Another object or importance is to provide readers with the means forsupporting reading matter for readers who read while lying down.

Another object of importance is to provide a table that is light weightand may be folded into a compact bundle to facilitate portability andstorage.

Other objects of importance will appear from the following description,the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawings in which likereference characters designate like parts throughout the several viewsand wherein FIGS. 1 and 2 show two different means for holding a book onthe table top.

FIG. 1 is a frontal view showing means No. l for holding a book on areading table top.

FIG. 2 is a frontal view showing means No. 2 for holding a book on areading table top.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational crossection view taken along line A-A ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top view of FIG. 2.

The remaining FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show means No. l for holding a book onthe table top.

FIG. 5 is a back elevational view of the reading table.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the reading table.

FIG. 7 shows the reading table in the process of being collapsed intoits foldup position for storage.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 5thru 7 wherein the table is constructed as follows:

The table top 1 may be formed from a single rectaugular sheet ofmasonite. Fastened to the top 1 along one edge are ledges 2 that preventbooks and other reading matter placed on the table top from sliding offwhen the top is inclined. Ledges 2 are lengths of extruded angles, oneside of the angle being fastened to the back of this top 1 near its edgeand the other side protruding outward at a right angle to the table topedge to form a ledge.

Elastic straps 3 are used for holding a book, or other reading matterdown on table top 1. If a book is to be read when turned up-side-down,its top cover is slid under the center strap and the other two strapsare placed across book covers as illustrated. These latter two strapsare threaded through beads 4 which may be slid to any position along thestraps 3 and are used to reduce friction of straps on book pages. Astrap 3 consists of a length of flat-elastic joined at its ends to forma loop. These straps furnish the streach necessary to accomodate booksof varying thicknesses.

To turn pages, the reader lifts up on the upper corner of the right-handpage. This causes the lower corner of the page to slide out from underthe right-hand strap streached across the lower right-hand corner of thebook. The page is turned and this corner is slid under the left-handstrap streached across the lower left-hand corner of the book. If thepage corner will not slide under the left-hand strap, the strap islifted by the left hand as the right hand slides the corner of the pageunder it. The table top 1 is fastened to a U-shaped bracket 11. Bracket11 is pivotally connected to one end of arm 14, which is a rectangularblock of wood. Legs of bracket 11 straddled an end of block 14. A bolt12 passes through a hole in each bracket leg and a hole through end ofblock 14. Bolt 12 serves as an axis around which bracket 11 can pivot topermit changing the inclination of table top 1 relative to arm 14. Awingnut 13 is screwed onto one end of bolt 12. The tightening orloosening of wing-nut 13 increases or decreases the friction betweenbracket 11 and arm block 14 thereby increasing or decreasing theresistance to changing the inclination of the table top.

Arm 14 is slidably connected to shoulder 17. Shoulder I7 is a squaretube. Channel 15 surrounds squaretube-shoulder 17 on three sides and isfastened to arm 14 on the fourth side by rivets l6. Sufficient clearanceis left between square-tube-shoulder l7 and channel 15 to permit thechannel to slide along shoulder 17 when table top 1 is pushed sidewaysleft or right.

Square-tube-shoulder 17 is pivotally connected at each end to leg 20.Bolt 18 which passes through a hole near the top end of each leg 20 andthrough the center of shoulder 17 serves as an axis around whichshoulder 17 can pivot. When arm 14 is swing up or down, shoulder l7pivots about bolt 18. A wingnut 19 when screwed in or out on bolt 18increases or decreases the friction between legs 20 and shoulder 17thereby increasing or decreasing the resistance to changing theinclination of arm 14 relative to the legs and therefore the height ofthe reading table top 1 is changed.

Pivotally connected to each leg 20 is a foot 21. Axis of the pivot foreach leg is rivet 22 which passes through a hole near one end of eachleg 20 and foot 21. A wire brace 23 holds each leg in an uprightposition. One end of each wire brace 23 which is formed in a Z- shape,fltS at one end in a hole in a leg 20 and its other end fits in a holein foot 21. When one end of a brace 23 is slipped out of hole in a leg20, the leg and foot can be collapsed to a fold up position asillustrated by FIG. 7.

FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 illustrate means No. 2 for holding a book on table top1 wherein the table top and book holding means is constructed asfollows:

The table top may be formed from a single rectangular sheet of masonite.Fastened to the back of table top 1 along one edge is rectangularmolding 10. Fastened to a side of molding is a ledge 5 that preventsbooks and other reading matter placed on the table top from sliding offwhen the top is inclined. Ledge 5 is a thin extruded rectangular barthat extends outward at a rightangle to the table top to form a ledge.

Rod 6 is used to hold the center-line along binding of an open book fromfalling off table top 1 when the top is facing in a downward direction.As illustrated in FIG. 3, rod 6 is parallel to and spaced a shortdistance from table top 1. Rod 6 is perpendicular to and passes througha hole in ledge 5 then bends at a right angle to the top 1 and isfastened to the underside of ledge 5. When placing a book on the readingtable top 1, the book is opened and its center is slid between rod 6 andtable top 1 until the lower edge of its cover comes to rest on ledge 5.

As illustrated by FIGS. 2 and 3, two oppositely disposed page hold-downfinger ensembles are used to hold pages of a book down. A page hold-downfinger ensemble is an assembly of four parts consisting of a transparentelongated bar finger 7, a rod 8 and two fasteners 9 which are pushnutfasteners part number PS 250385 manufactured by Palnut a Division ofUnited Carr Inc. The rod 8 passes through a hole in one end of finger 7.Finger 7 is held in place near one end and perpendicular to rod 8 bypushnut fasteners (flat round type) 9 which are pushed on rod 8 fromopposite ends until they sandwich finger 7 between them. Due to theirconstruction, fasteners 9 can not be backed-off rod 8. Rod 8 at its endopposite where finger 7 is attached is slidably and rotatably held in ahole whose axis passes at an angle through table top 1 and rectangularmolding 10. As finger rods 8 emerge from holes through top 1 and molding10, they slant toward each other so that fingers 7 when pointing towardeach other also point inward toward center of ledge 5. This fingerslant-in construction is to provide the means for holding fingers 7 inthe position that they are placed. When a rod 8 is manually pushed intoits associated hole, finger 7 moves toward then makes contact with apage of an open book. When rod 8 is pushed further into its hole, thefinger pressure on the page is increased. FIG. 7 is made of transparentacrytic plastic so that as it is pressed against a page, it acts as aflat spring that cocks rod 8 in its hole causing it to bind in the hole.Rod 8 therefore holds in the hole position in which it is placed so longas there is pressure on finger 7. When table top 1 is facing downward,the weight of book pages against fingers 7 create the aforementionedpressure-spring action causing rods 8 to stay in the hole positionsplaced.

When loading a book a book on the table top 1, fingers 7 are rotatedoutward away from the center of the top. Once a book has been placed inan upright position on the ledge 5 its center behind rod 6 as previouslydescribed, fingers are rotated back to the desired page hold-downpositions. Finger 7 pressure on pages may be increased by pushing on oneend of rod 8 and reduced by pushing on the opposite end of rod 8. It isnoted that the page hold-down construction described permits holddownfinger ensembles to be quickly and easily adjusted to accomodatedifferent page, stack thicknesses as well as pressure of a finger on astack of pages.

The procedure for turning pages is as follows: The reader picks-up theupper right hand corner of a book page with the thumb and forefinger ofhis left hand while his right hand rotates rod 8 so that righthand pagehold-down finger 7 is rotated outward until it clears the page, thenback again under this top page to the desired hold-down position on thepage below. The page is turned with the left hand then held down by theright hand while the readers left hand is used to rotate the lefthandpage hold-down finger first out away from the underlying page, then backon top of the page just turned and brought to rest again in the desiredholddown position. The above described reading table and bookholdingmeans facilitate reading by making it unnecessary to hold a book whilereading whether the reader is sitting up or lying down and provides theflexibility required to rapidly position a book as eyes move from top ofpage to bottom and from one page to the next. As a reader reads from topof page to bottom, the top may first be brought closer to the eyes bytilting the upper portion of the table top closer to the eyes. As theeyes move toward the bottom of the page, the lower portion of the pagemay be brought closer by tilting the table top in the oppositedirection. This action is facilitated by wing nut 13 which may be turnedto a setting just tight enough to provide the right amount of arm block14 to bracket 11 friction or pressure required to permit changing of thetable top inclination, yet hold it in the position set. When a readermoves from one page to another, the top may be quickly slid sideways tobring a new page into convient reading position. Pages are easilyturned.

Reading tables of which I have a knowledge, except for my invention U.S.Pat. No. 3,698,328 issued Oct. 17, 1972, do not provide the combinationof features described above for facilitating reading and permiting thetable to be folded-up for storage and portability. The present inventionrepresents an improvement over my former invention U.S. Pat. No.3,698,328 in the following respects:

1. The vertical height of the table top can be more easily adjusted upor down. To change table top vertical height my former inventionrequires the independent adjustment of two separate legs, eachadjustment requiring the steps of (1) loosening a knurled-lock-nut (2)changing the length of a telescoping leg and (3) tightening theknurled-lock-nut. In the present invention, the height adjustment arm 14may be swung up or down merely by pushing up or down on top 1. Thisaction is facilitated by wing-nut 19 which may be turned to a settingjust tight enough to provide the right amount of shoulder 17 to leg 20friction required to permit changing of the table top height, yet holdit in the position set.

2. Construction of table legs and feet are considerably simplified bythe present invention compared to my former reading table invention U.S.Pat. No. 3,698,328.

3. The table top of my former reading table invention is very limitedwith respect to how far it can be inclined because it can only beinclined slightly toward the facing down position before furtherinclination in this direction is obstructed by the tables own legs. Inthe present invention, arm ,14 holds the table top 1 out away from legs20 so thatthe top can be inclined to a completely up-side'downpositionif desired.

4. Fold-up of the present invention is quicker and easier to understandsince it works on a simple fourfold principle whereas my former readingtable invention requires a combination of four-fold, collapsing oftelescoping legs and rotation of feet to achieve a fold-up position.

5. Book hold-down straps 3 are of simpler construction than those of myformer reading table invention since each strap consists of a simpleflat elastic loop whereas each strap of my former invention consisted ofthree components (1) a cord (2) spring and (3) hooks.

Furthermore some features illustrated and described in my previousreading table invention US. Pat. No. 3,698,328 were not claimed andtherefore are included in the claims below. It is believed apparent thatthe present invention is not necessarily confined to the specific usedescribed above since it may to utilized for any purpose to which it maybe suited. Nor is the invention recessarily limited to the specificconstruction illustrated and described, since such construction is onlyintended to be illustrative of the principles of operation, it beingconsidered that the invention comprehends any minor change.

What is claimed is:

l. A reading table which comprises:

a table top,

a pair of legs each with a foot projecting outwardly from its lowerextremity,

a horizontal crosspiece pivotally connected at each of its opposite endsto the upper extremity of a leg, means for locking said legs in adjusteddisposition around the axis of said crosspiece,

an arm projecting outwardly from the crosspiece,

said arm free at one end to slide along the length of the crosspiece,

means for pivoting the arm in unison with the crosspiece around the axisof the crosspiece,

said arm pivotally connected at its other end to the table top, and

means for reasonably locking said table top in adjusted angles relativeto the arm.

2. A reading table with foldable legs which comprises:

a table top,

a pair of equal length legs each with a foot pivotally connected to itslower extremity,

means for connecting the upper extremity of said legs to the table top,

a pair of elongated braces pivotally connected at their lowerextremities to opposite feet,

means for locking the upper extremites of the braces to at least onepair of points on opposite legs to form equal leg-to-foot angles.

3. A reading table with foldable legs which comprises:

a table top,

a pair of equal length legs each with a foot pivotally connected to itslower extremity,

means for connecting the upper extremity of said legs to the table top.

a pair of elongated braces pivotally connected at their upperextremities to opposite legs, and

means for locking the lower extremities of the braces to at least onepair of points on opposite feet to

1. A reaDing table which comprises: a table top, a pair of legs eachwith a foot projecting outwardly from its lower extremity, a horizontalcrosspiece pivotally connected at each of its opposite ends to the upperextremity of a leg, means for locking said legs in adjusted dispositionaround the axis of said crosspiece, an arm projecting outwardly from thecrosspiece, said arm free at one end to slide along the length of thecrosspiece, means for pivoting the arm in unison with the crosspiecearound the axis of the crosspiece, said arm pivotally connected at itsother end to the table top, and means for reasonably locking said tabletop in adjusted angles relative to the arm.
 2. A reading table withfoldable legs which comprises: a table top, a pair of equal length legseach with a foot pivotally connected to its lower extremity, means forconnecting the upper extremity of said legs to the table top, a pair ofelongated braces pivotally connected at their lower extremities toopposite feet, means for locking the upper extremites of the braces toat least one pair of points on opposite legs to form equal leg-to-footangles.
 3. A reading table with foldable legs which comprises: a tabletop, a pair of equal length legs each with a foot pivotally connected toits lower extremity, means for connecting the upper extremity of saidlegs to the table top. a pair of elongated braces pivotally connected attheir upper extremities to opposite legs, and means for locking thelower extremities of the braces to at least one pair of points onopposite feet to form equal leg-to-foot angles.